The Boston Celtics have made it clear - they’re not staying quiet anymore when it comes to officiating. After back-to-back losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers earlier this month, Boston’s frustration with the whistle reached a boiling point.
And it wasn’t just subtle sideline grumbling. Jaylen Brown and head coach Joe Mazzulla took their grievances straight to the mic - and the league office noticed.
In those two losses, the Celtics attempted just 13 free throws combined. Thirteen. For a team that thrives on physicality and downhill pressure, that number raised more than a few eyebrows in the locker room.
Brown didn’t mince words after the Jan. 10 loss to San Antonio, calling out the officiating crew in a postgame tirade that cost him $35,000. Two nights later in Indiana, Mazzulla made his point in a different way - answering all six of his postgame questions with the same phrase: “Illegal screen.” That was a not-so-subtle jab at what he believed was a missed call on Pascal Siakam’s game-winning bucket.
Fast forward nearly two weeks, and the Celtics finally saw some whistles go their way. In a 119-104 win over the Pacers, Boston shot 16 free throws in the first half alone - more than they had in the previous two games combined.
“Maybe it was the fine,” Brown said with a smile after the win. But he wasn’t just joking - he was making a point.
“That’s important when you’re playing good teams, regardless of the Xs and Os. Complaints or not, if you’re not getting to the free-throw line at least eight to ten times per game, it’s tough to win.
Especially playing through physicality. So we just gotta keep putting pressure on the rim and find ways to get those calls for our team.”
And Brown has been doing exactly that. Over his last 10 games, no player in the league has driven to the basket more often than him.
He’s averaging north of 21 drives per game - a relentless attack mode that’s become a staple of his offensive game this season. But the reward hasn’t always matched the effort.
Despite leading the league in drives during that stretch, Brown’s averaging just seven free-throw attempts per game.
To put that in perspective: Donovan Mitchell, who’s been driving to the rim eight fewer times per game than Brown, is getting to the line just as often. That kind of disparity is exactly what’s been driving the Celtics’ star to speak out.
It’s not just about foul hunting - it’s about consistency. Brown’s game is built on physicality.
He attacks with force, absorbs contact, and plays through bodies. When he doesn’t get the call, it’s not just a missed opportunity - it’s a momentum killer.
But since Brown and Mazzulla aired their frustrations, the Celtics have started to see a shift. In their last four games, Boston has attempted 22 or more free throws each night - a significant uptick for a team that, until recently, ranked dead last in the league in free-throw attempts per game.
And the impact has been immediate. The Celtics have gone 3-1 in those four games, with their only loss coming by a single point to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
That’s not a coincidence. When Boston gets to the line, they’re a different team - more aggressive, more confident, and harder to defend.
As the Celtics head back out on the road, the question now becomes: can they keep this up? Can they continue to put pressure on opposing defenses, force the issue, and earn those trips to the stripe - even when they’re not playing in front of a home crowd?
If Jaylen Brown has anything to say about it, the answer is yes. He’s not backing down, and neither are the Celtics. They’ve found their voice - and lately, they’re finally getting the calls to match.